Delta govt, workers at loggerhead over dress code

Delta State government and the state workers are on a collision course over the reintroduction of dress code for civil servants.

The office of the Head of Service had in a circular on September 9, prescribed specific dress patterns to be adhered to by all employees in the state public service.

Some workers had openly mocked the directive, with one saying sarcastically that “tomorrow, the government may even stop civil servants from getting married.”

Reacting to the circular, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, described the policy as being insensitive to the plight of the workers, arguing that leadership of the workers were not consulted before the action was taken.

The circular said to ensure compliance, heads of departments have been directed to send home erring officers as improper dressing in the public service would no longer be tolerated HOS.

Speaking in pigin English to workers over the weekend, chairman of the NLC in the state, Comrade Goodluck Oforbruku, said workers would not accept the directive.

He said: “We nor gree because the money we dey earn nor reach chop. E nor reach pay our children school fees. E nor reach pay our house rent. E nor reach transport ourselves to work, not to talk say all of us must wear suit.

“Dem never even think how to improve on weytin we dey earn, whether we fit chop, whether we fit take care of our health. Dem dey say make we wear suit or wear that. The money nor dey for us to wear those ones.

“If you want to make new policy, why you nor go discuss am with workers’ representatives?  Dem nor even discuss am with any of us. Dem just sit down for their office, issue circular. Dem think say because Dem dey get corner marking na so all workers dey get corner marking.

“As we dey so, many workers nor dey see chair and table sit down. Dem nor dey see biro take write for their office. Some nor even get paper. No stationery. You dey say make we go buy suit. Where the money dey? How much you dey pay the people?

“If the new code is allowed to scale through na so one person go come tomorrow, he go say make Civil Servants nor dey marry. Na that one be new policy of government.”

Speaking on the issue, the state Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said there would be no going back on the policy. He explained that the circular issued was not introducing a new law but only emphasising what has always been contained in the civil service rules.

Aniagwu maintained that, like every other profession, the civil service has standards of appearance expected from its workforce. According to him, decency and corporate dressing are essential in maintaining the integrity of the service.

“When you come to work in spaghetti straps or slippers, you demean the image of the service. The civil service is not a free party where people can dress as they please,” Aniagwu stressed.

He clarified that the government was not attempting to dictate how workers should dress in their private lives, at home, in churches, or at social events. The regulation, he said, is restricted to official hours and duties.

The commissioner further argued that the enforcement of the dress code was aimed at protecting the image of government and safeguarding the respect due to public institutions.

Aniagwu urged civil servants to comply with the directive, stressing that adherence to established rules and standards was a core responsibility of the workforce in sustaining the dignity of the service.

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